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A SUCCESSFUL BL END O F TAGE AND INNOVA


A SUCCESSFUL BLEND OF HERITA


Marianne Cul er, presi ent of RS Components talks to E ectro cs about how the com any, founded 80years ago, has ev


80 years ago, has evolved to meet the ever-changi g needs of the high-tech industry


rianne Culver, president ofRS Components talks to Electronicsl eve


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hange is not an easy thing to achieve for any business, but perhaps even harder for a company founded on


traditionalism, especially in regards to the way it operates. But RS Components (RS), a global distributor for engineers has managed to do just this by embracing change, asMarianne Culver, President of RS Components discusses: It’s human nature to resist change. But in the


technology world, standing still is not an option. Design engineers are driven to ideate, innovate and differentiate, so to support themthrough the product lifecycle, distributors like RSmust also push the boundaries.We have to adapt, to change swiftly, in terms of products, solutions and serv


rvice propositions, and especially in the way we engage with our customers.” The company’s roots are deeply


embedded in the electronics industry, but as withmany tall standing trees, the branchesmust spread wide to ensure stability as Culver explain s: “Radiospares, as it was back in 1937, started business in London supplying spare parts to the burgeoning radiomarket. Electronic components for the industrial sector were added in 1954, and the name changed to


,


‘doorstopper’ RS catalogue RS in 1971. By 1974, the fa


featured 2,500 mous


products; and there is real value in experience.


“RS has long been renowned for high quality and service excelle nce. Engineer s and purchasing professionals have, over the decades, come to rely on the RS product proposition, nominimumorder quantity and same day despatch. Our heritage is founded on the principle of ease of doing business. This we do by keeping things simple and excelling at the basics: providing what engineers need, when they need it,” Culver continues.


Speed of growth for the distributor has been largely dictated by themarket, as Culver describes: “Today RS operates in 32 countries, sourcingmore than 500,000 products from2,500+ suppliers, shipping 50,000 parcels a day to 1million


,


customers.We embraced technology from the outset. Our firstmega-distribution centre opened in Corby in 1984, followed in 1997 by the fully automated facility in


8 DECEMBER JANUAR 2018 ECEMBER/JANUARY2018 || ELEC RO ELECTRONICS CS evolved tomeet the ev r-changing needs of the high-tech i dustry


technologies such as Raspberry Pi we have succeeded in attractingmore than 500,000 engineers to the DesignSpark community,maintaining special support for the education sector.We also take innovation out on the road in the UK with our purpose-built RS truck, touring


, ,


universities, schools and business parks to demonstrate innovative technologies, such as 3D printers, AI and robotics”, adds Culver. Speaking of the future and the


Figure 1: Figure 1: RS Components S Components


celebrates 80 years of industry innovation


celebrates 80 years of industry innovation


Nuneaton. RS was the first catalogue distributor to introduce a CD-ROMversion in 1995; and it was the first to launch a transactional website in 1998, heralding the shift to comprehensivemulti-channel service propositions, with 60%of orders today effected via eCommerce channels,” Culver adds .


ADAP ING ADAPTING TO CHANGE CHANGE


In regards to how RS has changed the way the company is perceived today, Culver outlines: “RS ismuchmore than a one- stop-shopmiddleman.We have sought not only to nurture new engineering talent but also to help raise the profile of the profession and inspiremore young people, especially women, to take up engineering. In 2010, we launched our DesignSpark engineering community, providing


Figure 2: Figure 2: RS Pro Evikey S Pro Evikey


engineering resources and tools, including electronic, electrical andmechanical CAD packages, along with technical forums and workshops.


“With a strong focus on disruptive


distributors ability to keep pace with th e times, Culver says: “Getting the balance right betweenmaintaining traditional values andmoving with the times requires us to lend an ear to our customers, our staff and our suppliers. Acting on their feedback helps us anticipate and respond to change.We are investing in our people, developing skills to interact better with customers and suppliers, building diverse, talented, sector-specific teams. Gender and culture


Significantly we are harnessing their passio n to provide technical and logistical support “Plus, we have some 100million website visits per year, so we capture billions of data points and conduct extensive


re diversity fosters newthinking. ,


rt.


customer-centric research.We know that this data is our greatest asset to anticipate the future. Artificial intelligence and predictive analytics will help us interpret the data, giving us the insight to create real value for our customers and suppliers, and ensuring the co mpany remains responsive and agile, Culver surmises. “We use it to help customers solve tomorrow’s problems. It has already allowed us to create a ‘best-in-class’ personalised digital customer experience, with amobile site designed tomeet the needs of engineers on themove; and for suppliers, we are their eyes and ears in the massmarket, developing a unique ecosystemof partners in innovation.We are aware that we are at an inflection point in our industry The Internet of Thing s (IoT) and Industry 4.0 will touch virtually everymarket and all aspects of our lives, and RS will be part of it, Culver inflects.


. RS Components www.uk.rs-online.com/web


www.uk.rs-online.com/web T: 08457 201 201


/ ELECTRONICS ELECTRONICS ronics about howthe company, founde d


VATION


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